Hosea 10

Israel Is a Spreading Vine

1Israel is a spreading vine;
he produces fruit for himself.
As his fruit increased,
he multiplied altars;
as his land prospered,
they made beautiful pillars. 2Their heart is divided;
now they will bear their guilt.
He will break down their altars;
he will destroy their pillars.

We Have No King

3For now they will say,
“We have no king,
for we do not fear the LORD.
And the king—
what can he do for us?” 4They speak words,
swearing empty oaths,
making covenants;
so judgment springs up
like poisonous weeds
in the furrows of a field.

The Calf of Beth-Aven

5The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
for the calf of Beth-Aven.
Its people mourn for it,
and its idolatrous priests cry out over it,
over its glory,
for it has departed from it. 6It also will be carried to Assyria
as tribute to the great king.
Ephraim will receive shame,
and Israel will be ashamed
of his counsel. 7Samaria’s king is cut off
like foam
on the face of water. 8The high places of Aven,
the sin of Israel,
will be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle
will grow over their altars.
Then they will say to the mountains,
“Cover us!”
and to the hills,
“Fall upon us!”

From the Days of Gibeah

9From the days of Gibeah
you have sinned, Israel.
There they have stood.
Will not war against the children of injustice
overtake them in Gibeah? 10When I desire,
I will discipline them,
and peoples will be gathered against them
when they are bound
for their twofold guilt.

Ephraim Was a Trained Heifer

11Ephraim was a trained heifer
that loved to thresh,
and I passed over
the beauty of her neck.
I will make Ephraim carry a rider;
Judah will plow;
Jacob will harrow for himself. 12Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap according to steadfast love.
Break up for yourselves fallow ground,
for it is time to seek the LORD
until he comes
and rains righteousness upon you.

You Have Plowed Wickedness

13You have plowed wickedness;
you have reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of falsehood.
Because you trusted in your way,
in the multitude of your warriors, 14tumult will rise among your people,
and all your fortresses will be devastated,
as Shalman devastated Beth-Arbel
on the day of battle,
when mother was shattered
upon children. 15Thus he will do to you, Bethel,
because of your great evil.
At dawn
the king of Israel
will be utterly cut off.